Internal-combustion engine.



W. L. BARTHELEMY.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

, v APPLICA-VON FILE APR. 22| '93- 1,284,043 Patented Novj, 1918.

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W. `L. BAHTHELWIY.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPucATmN msn APR. 22, ma.

@@UNH Paente Novr 5, 1918.

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'ZZ IZ W. L. BARIHELIiI/IY.

INTERNAL COMBUSIION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APP.. 22. 191m.

- Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3v WAIi'IER LHBARTHELEMY, OF DAYTON, `OHIO.

INTERNAL-OMBUSTIN ENGINE.

isernia.

:Specification ofiIlettersPatent.

`appntatnm filed api-i122, 191e. serial no. 229,978.

To mil yiff/tom t may concern.'

Be itlmown that LVVVALTER L. lBAn'rrInL- mir, a citizen of theiUnited States, residing` at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery andhEltate of Ohio,`l1ave invented certain new and useful Improvements in llnternal- Combustion Engines, of Whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

lhis .invention relates to internal coinbustion engines and its principal object is to `provide an improved engineiof therotary type containing a plurality `of separate cylinders, the pistons of which reciprocate, thus avoiding entirely the turbine principle. The gas is exploded in` lthe several cylinders and acts on reciprocating pistons, these pistons being engaged and'discngaged with stationary portions of 'the engine frame.

fin additional object is tolprovide an improved engine of the type referred tohaving cylinders mounted on a rotating frame; these cylinders having pistons acting against stationary bars, both to compress `the gas in the cylinders and to cause rotation ofthe cylinders. The cylinders are carriedby the rim ofthe rotating frame or Wheel and thus have very large leverage on the cross rods against which they operate, whereby a large torque is produced.

A, further object is to provide such an engine `with a large number of 'small cylinders, the number of which can be increased as desired so as to produce a `very even` torque on `any driven device. The amount of power can be varied by the use of additional cylinders and the construction 'provides readily for theattachment of'su'ch addi` tional cylinders.

A further object isto provide such an env gine made in sections. each havinga plurality of cylinders so that the `,engine may be ii'urnished in dilferent ysizes'bythe mere addition of other cylinders and their supporting parts.

`An additional Objectis to provide anengine of the type described working on lthe two cycleprinciple and in which the'gasis forced into thecylindersunder pressure and then compressed by the 4movementof "the pistons-in the cylinders. p

'ln the drawings, Figure l islaside elevation of the complete enoine showing 1the cylinders mount-ed on ythe rim oftherotatingl frame and indicating the stationary ffsiipports the rotating parts.

2 is avertical section ,l on the line "2-2 and in the direction of thearrow on Fig. l; and Fig.`3 is a detail,

enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig.` l,

` thejposition of the` parts being suchas to "show the gas entering the cylinders under pressure. y

"The construction includes a rotating 'frame on which cylinders are mounted in sets orl groups, each group comprising a "number `of cylinders. These cylinders are pivoted "at` therim of the frame and are Vadaptedto oscillateon the frame, this oscillationlbeing caused bv the engagement of the `pistons infthe cylinders with `certain cross rods of the stationary frame which f ln `operation thevfgas orfuel enters the cylinders under *pressure Vand is then compressed lin the 'Hcylinders by Ithe movement of the rotating frame, which movement causes the `'pistons to engage' the cross rods referred to `andbe held momentarily thereby. When the gas has f been compressed it `is exploded and drives the pistons in the cylinders, thereby causing movement ofthe rotating frame through the ren'gagement of these -"pistons with the cross `rodsbefore referred to. Thegas iscarried `intothe'cylinders through the axle and the spokes of lthe rotating` `frame tothe rim "whichis hollow .for thepurpose of permitting the passage ofthe gas. "Valves in this rim are controlled by 'thecylinders in their oscillating movement and thus entranceof the` gasV tothe cylinders is permitted only at lthe desired point.

As shown, the engine is built in sections y which may be duplicated as desired,'whereby to kincrease the power of the engine readily.

Beferring to F ig. .2 the stationary frame 1 is mounted on a desired support and it i11- cludes members 2 and horizontal cross rods 3. 'The 'central portions of the members?J are arrangedto. form` journals 3 inwhich 1 'the shaft" 4: of the rotating frame is carried.

*As Lshownfthe shaft 4 is hollowed at 5 so` as 'to permit passage ofthe gas and the spokes 6 arealsohollow, `thus `permitting),- the gas topass tothe rims 7. rlfhese rims have circular passages 8 so that the gasmay freely circulate entirely aroundthe rim and therebymaypass out of` any of the valve ports carried! in the rim.

It will be seen that the construction provides a plurality of sections of the machine cach having a series of spokes 6 and a rim 7, these sections all being carried on the common central shaft 4 and each section including a plurality of driving cylinders.

Fig. 1 shows the position of the several cylinders around the rim 7 and in this figure there are shown seven cylinders. Of course, this number is not essential and more or less may be employed. These cylinders 10 are pivotally mounted on the rim 7, pivots 11 constituting cylinder ournals being employed for that purpose. Thus, the cylinders may oscillate relative to the rim as they are being rotated by the movement of the rotating frame. The cylinders are provided with pistons 12 having piston rods 13 which at their outer ends are provided with bifurcated portions 14 adapted to engage the cross rods 3 of the stationary frame. The engine as stated operates on the two cycle principle and each cylinder is therefore provided with an exhaust port 15 and with a gas inlet valve 16. This valve is pressed by a spring 17 toward closing position, as indicated in Fig. 2. As no crank shafts or connecting rods are employed the extent of travel of the pistons 12 must be controlled so as to prevent these pistons from striking the outer ends of the cylinders. To this end springs 18 surround the piston rods 13 and it will be evident that in the outward movement of the pistons they will engage these springs and compress them, thereby stopping the movement of the pistons in the cylinders and preventing damage. Clearly, when the pistons 12 cover the exit ports 15 the air thus confined will be compressed by the further movement of the pistons and this aids in stopping the pistons gradually and before they reach the outer ends of the cylinders. In order to provide a second journal for the cylinders yokes 19 are employed carried by the rim 7, v

these passing entirely around the cylinders and providing bearings 20 for the shaft 21 around which the cylinders oscillate.

vAs stated, the cross rods 3 control the oscillation of the cylinders 10 in one of their movements and additional devices are provided for causing the reverse oscillating movement. Fig. '1 shows the several cylinders in different positions relative to the cycle of firing. The cylinder at the top of Fig. 1 marked 10a is in iring position, its piston rod 13 being directly radial from the shaft 4 to the particular cross rod 3. The cylinder next to the right in Fig. 1 marked 10b isV on the compression stroke. That is, the gas has been admitted to the cylinder through the shaft 4 and the spoke 6 and the piston is being forced inwardly in the cylinder by the rotation of the frame and through the engagement of the piston rod with the corresponding cross rod 3. This compression will continue until the particular piston rod 13 for the cylinder 10 is directly radial from the center of shaft 4. The cylinder near the bottom of Fig. 1 marked 10c has nearly completed its compression stroke and will shortly be fired. The cylinder marked 101 has been fired and the cylinder itself is moving away from the corresponding cross rod 3 and its piston 12 is therefore passing outwardly through the cylinder. The cylinder 10 is in the charging position, that is, its piston rod 13 is fully extended and the valve 1G of the cylinder is in operative relation with the valve in the rim so as to permit the gas to pass. The cylinder 10t has substantially completed its operative stroke, the piston rod being nearly extended and the piston 12 having about reached a position where the exit port 15 is uncovered. Obviously, the rotation of the frame will shortly move this cylinder 10i enough to carry the bifurcated portion 14 of its piston rod away from the cross rod 3.

It will be seen that the cylinder 10t must shortly be disengaged from the cross rod 3 and moved to such a position that its piston rod may engage the succeeding cross rod 3 which in the case of the cylinder inentioned is at the top of Fig. 1. That is, the cylinder 10i must shortly assume a position relativo to the rim similar to that shown for the cylinder 10e. To accomplish this requires a reverse oscillation of the cylinder as compared with its oscillation given by its engagement of the piston rod with the cross rod 3. To cause this reverse oscillation the stationary frame portions 2 are provided with a series of short circular racks 22 and the supporting shafts 21 of the cylinders are provided with pinions 23 adapted to be moved over the stationary racks 22. The racks appear in Figs. 1 and 3 and it will be seen that they :1re positioned between the cross rods 3 and at points such that the pinions 23 will engage the first tooth of the particular rack 22 just as the piston rod 13 leaves the corresponding cross rod 3. This position is indicated in connection with the cylinder 10f on Fig. 1 and it will be seen there that the pinion 23 will very shortly engage the stationary rack Obviously, the further movement of the rotating frame will oscillatel the cylinder 10t in the desired direction so as to bring it in son'ie such position relative to the rim as the cylinder 10c occupies in Fig.

1. This is done as the cylinder moves past the particular rack 22 and is completed by the time the gear 23 leaves the rack 22 so that at this time the piston rod 13 is in the proper position to have its bifurcatcd portion 14 shortly engage the succeeding cross rod 3 and be stopped thereby.

It will be seen that the principle el' the i cocinas invention' is that the piston rods engage stationary projections and are therefore stopped Aso as l to :cause `compression of the gasl in ,theecylinders by the rotation oi the wheel or rota-ting iframe. When the piston has completed f its i. compression stroke and the cylinder is in the position shown at 101L in Fig. lythe explosion occurs and the piston is driven outwardly through the cylinder. This causes the rotating movement of the rim by engagement oi the piston rod with the stationary cross rod Assoon as the particular cylinder has expended the energy ofv` its fuel it is necessary to repeat the operation in connection with the succeeding-cross rod and this is accomplished by the oscillation of the cylinder through engagement of the pinion' 23 with the stationary rack 22. y

ln Fig. 2 the cylinders shown at the bottom of theiigure are in firing position, their pistons 12 being at kthe upper ends ofthe cylinders and the piston rods engaging the particularcross rod Here the valve 16 is closed so as to prevent the tuel from passing out of the cylinder and the explo sionl is caused as usual by an electric spark furnished by the spark plug` 26. The stationary traine portions 2 are provided with circular contact bearing members 27 and 2S and the spark plug head is arranged to touch the member 27,'the circuit being completed through the cylinder 10` and a projection 29 formed thereon, this projection engaging the other contact member The means lor producing the electric `current at the proper instant andedistributing it to the various cylinders is not shown as any oit the well known methods may be employed. To `advance or retard the spark the con 'tacts 27 and 28 are mounted on circular members 30, these members beingcarried on the stationary frame 2 and being adapted to be slightly rotated by hand operated devices `81. The turning oit these devices 31 will obviously nieve the contact members 27 andi 28. slightly and thus change `as desired the exact timing oit' `the explosions. i

Fig. 3 shows the parts in theposition in which gas is admitted to the cylinders. llt will be remembered that the gas is forced through `the hollow rim 'Tfunder pressure and there are provided valves 32, one tor eachv cylinder, these valves seating against valve seats 33 formed on the riin 7 and being normally pressed outward by springs A. rod; 35 `carried `on cross portion y 34. 36 of the `rim 7i serves to guide the valves v32. The spring together with the gas pressure is sut'licient to overcome thespring '17` ofthevalve 16 and thus when the two valves are in operative relation, as shown in this figure, they will both open and gas pass intothe cylinders. As shown, the valve `16' is provided with an end. plate 37 directly` abutting the end or' the valve 32; When the cylinder has been charged with gas its entrance to the cylinder must be shut oft and this is caused by the oscillation ot thecylinder before referred to. In the position oit cylinder 10e in Fig. 1 the charging is taking place and a slight more ment oi the rotating traine will engage the piston` rod of that cylinder with the cross rod 3, whereupon oscillation ol the cylinder on the rotating iframe will begin. rlhe first movement thereof will carry the valve 1G awa-y from. the valve 32 and then thereturn oi gas past the valve 1G is prevented by the spring 17 which causes the valve to seat. However, the springs tor the valves 32 constantly tend to press these valves out wardly or to their open position and this, of course, would permit escape and waste of the-fuel. rllo prevent such waste each of the cylinders is provide-:l with a circular plate `111 adapted to move over theouter edge ofvalves 32 and hold them tightly seated. rllhese circular portions extend to positions such that the very lirst movement of oscillation of the cylinders away iti-om the charging position carries the plate 41 over the valve 3Q before any gas has a chance to escape. These plates 411 hold the valves 32 tightly shut during the entire double oscillation of the cylinders and until they again reach the charging position et cylinder 10;

lt will be seen that the construction provides for an explosion in each ot the cylinders as it passes *each of the cross rods 3 in succession. ln the forni shown there are seven cylinders ot each group and there are shown live of the cross rods 3. 'lhiis each complete rotation of the traine `will cansev ve explosions in each of the seven cylinders, whereby a very `eren torque is produced and the engine is obviously capai ble of producing a large amount of power.

rlhe number of cylinders is not an even multiple of the number oi. cross rods fi. Ubviously, it the number ot cylinders and cross rods were equal the cylinders would all `lire togetlier and thereby much less eren torque `would be produced. ln the torni shown in Fig. 1 the order ot :tiring of the cylinders is as follows: 10E, 10e, 10, 10e, 10, 101' and 1011. lt willbe observed `that the cylinders which lirein succession are at substantially opposite portionsot the rotating frame and that each movement et 10; degrees of rotation of the trame causes` the explosion oit `one cylinder. llie particular number of the cylinders and the cross rods shown is not essential as itevi dently may be varied with corresponding `variations in the number of explosions `for cylinders. The cylinders are arranged in pairs on each of the wheel yrims 7 so thatwith the form shown each section of the engine includes" fourteen cylinders. The number of sections may readily be increased as before indicated by extending the cross rods 3 and adding additional circular members 2 of the stationary frame, the een tral shaft 4 being coi'nmon to all of the sections of the engine.

While the use of the racks 22 to cause the oscillations of the cylinders l() so as to engage their piston rods with the cross rods 3 in advance thereof is the preferred form,

. nevertheless others means to accomplish this function may be employed. As an example a strong spring may be attached to each of the' cylinders constantly tending to move it to the position of cylinder 10e in Fig. 1, whereby the cylinders will be oscillated as soon as their piston rods are carried away from the cross rods 3. Also such springs may be employed to aid the racks 22 if desired.

As a matter of improvement the various spokes 6 arel shown as provided with fan blades 4:1 to cause a rapid circulation of air through the machine and thus aid in cooling the cylinders. 0f course, the rapid movement ofthe cylinders themselves tends to keep them cool, but the fan blades may be used if desired.

It is believed that the operation of the mechanism will be clear from the foregoing description, but it may be briefly recapitulated by tracing the progress of one of the cylinders from one iiring position to the next. In Fig. 1 the cylinder 10a at the top of the figure is in firing position and at this point the circuit is made through the contact members 27-28 to the spark plug 26, the circuit returning through the cylinder itself and its projection 29. .As soon as the piston rod 13 leaves the position in which it is exactly radial from the shaft 4c it presses against Vthe stationary rod 3, thereby forcing the cylinder ahead or to the right in F ig. 1. The cylinder gradually moves to the relative position shown -in connection with the cylinder 10f as its piston 12 moves outwardly and this movement continues until the Vpiston covers the exit port 15 when the air in the lower portion of the cylinder begins to compress and is stopped by this compressed air and by engagement of the piston with the 'spring 18. The further movement of the frame carries the piston rod away from the cross rod 3, this position being one which the cylinder 10f will shortly assume in the position of Fig. 1. Here the pinion 23 engages the stationary rack 22 and the cylinder is rapidly oscillated from the position of cylinder 10f through the position of cylinder 10 finally reaching the position of cylinder 10e in which the piston, rod engages the cross rod 3 in advance. In this position the cylinder valve 16 and the rim valve 32 are in engagement and in operative relation with each other. IIere the gas 'pressure through passage 8 in rim 7 together with the spring 311, overcomes the spring 17 and opens these two valves, this position being shown in Fig. 3. The gas may then rush into the cylinder filling it, and as the frame moves the cylinder from the position of cylinder 10e to that of 10b the cylinder valve 16 is moved away from the rim valve 32, whereupon both valves close, the valve 16 being closed by its spring 17 and the valve 32 being closed by the plate 11. Further movement of the cylinder moves it from the position of cylinder 10b to that of cylinder 10a, thereby compressingthe fuel in the cylinder, and when the piston rod 13 is again radial from the shaft 4: the succeeding` explosion ensues. This operation is rapidlyv repeated as the frame rotates, each cylinder exploding as it passes each of the successive cross rods 3.

While I have shown and described certain features as constituting my invention, it will be understood that parts have been shown for purposes of illustration only, and that I do not desire to be limited to such details, as obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame, of a plurality of cylinders mounted to oscillate on said frame, pistons and piston rods reciprocating in said cylinders, a stationary frame against portions of which said piston rods engage, and means for oscillating said cylinders on said rotatable frame.

2. In an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame, of a plurality of cylinders mounted to oscillate on said frame` pistons and piston rods .reciprocating in said cylinders, a stationary frame against portions of which said piston rods engage, valves on said rotatable frame for admitting fuel to the cylinders, means for oscillating said cylinders on said rotatable frame, and devices carried by said cylinders for controlling said valves.

3. In an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame, of a plurality of cylinders mounted to cscillate on said frame, pistons and piston rods reciprocating in said cylinders, a stationary frame in which said rotatable frame is journaled and including rods against which said piston rods engage, devices carried by said stationary frame constructed to oscillate said cylinders whereby to engage their piston rods with said stationary frame rods in succession, valves carried by said cylinders, and additional valves said cylinders.

i ,sean/is carried by said rotating frame, the oscilla# tion of said cylindersservingto bring said mounted to oscillate on said frame, pistons and piston rods"reciprocating in saidcylinders, a stationary frame including a plus rality of rods against which said piston rods engage in succession and by which said cylinders are oscillated on said rotatable frame, valves for admitting fuel to said cylinders` anddevices operated by oscillation of said cylinders for opening and closingsaid valves.`

5. In an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame, ofcylinders mounted to oscillate on said frame,pistons and piston rods reciprocatingin said cylinders.y a frame in which said rotatable frame isjourm naled and `having portions against which said piston rods engage insuccession, devices, controlled by the oscillation of said cylinders, for admitting fuel thereto, and means, carried by said stationaryframe, for causing explosion of the fuel admitted to 6. In an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame having` hollow spokes and a hollow rim through which fuel may travel, of a stationary frame including cross rods, and in which said rotatable frame is journaled, cylinders mounted in trunnions on said rotatable frame, pistons and piston rods reciprocating in said cylinders, said piston rods being` adapted to engage said cross rods of said stationary frame and to be disengaged therefrom by movement of said rotatable framavalves in said cylinders and in said hollow rim, the cylinder valves being positioned to be brought into operative relation with the rim valves by oscillation of said cylinders, and means for closing said rim valves.

7. lin an engine, the combination, with a rotatable frame having hollow spokes and a hollow rim, through which fuel may be forced under pressure, and valves in sai d rim controlling the passage of fuel. of a` stationary frame including cross rods and in which said rotatable frame is journaled, cylinders mounted to oscillate in said rotatable frame, pistons and piston rods reciprocating in said cylinders, the piston rods being engaged and disengaged from said movement of said rotatable frame, valves carried by said cylinders and brought into operative relation with said rim valves by oscillation of said cylinders, means carried by said cylinders forclosing said rim valves, and means, adjustably carried by said stationary frame, for permitting electricity to enter said cylinders to cause explosion of the fuel in said cylinders.

8. lln an engine, the combination, with a stati onary` of the number time the corresponding frame cross rods by rotatable frame having hollow spokes and a hollow rim through which fuel may be forced under pressure, and valves in said rim controlling the passage of fuel there from, of a stationary frame in `which said rotatable frame is journaled, cylinders mounted to oscillate on saidrotatable fraine, `pistons and pistonrods` reciprocating in said cylinders, said piston rods operating against elements of said stationary frame, devices for `oscillating said cylinders to bring` the piston rods in engagement with said frame elements, valves in said cylinders movable into operative relation with said rim valves, and means carried by said cylinders for closing said rim valves.`

9. lin an emgine,` the combination, with a stationary frame including cross rods, of a rotatable trame Journaled in saidstationary "frame, a plurality of cylinders mounted to oscillate on said rotatable frame, the number of cylinders not being` an even multiple of cross rods, pistons and piston rods in said cylinders, said piston rods being constructed to engage said cross rods in succession, and means for conveying fuel to and exploding it in each cylinder each piston rod engages any of the cross rods.

10. ln an engine, the combination, with a stationary frame including cross rods, of a rotating frame journaled in said stationary frame, a plurality of cylinders mounted to oseillate on said rotating frame, pistons and piston rods in said cylinders, said piston rods engaging said cross rods .in succession and driving said rotating frame by such enga 1,'ement,` means for oscillating said cylinders on said rotating frame, whereby to engage said piston rods with said cross rods, and means controlled by oscillation of said cylinders for admitting fuel thereto.

ll.. ln an engine, the combination, with a rotating frame having a hollow rim forming a fuel passage, of cylinders mounted to oscillate on said frame, pistons and piston rods reciprocating in said cylinders, means against which said piston rods engage to drive said rotating frame, valves in said rim, said valves normally tending to open to permit passage of fuel, valves in said cylinders, the` oscillation of said cylinders bringing said rim valves and said cylinder valves into operative relation to permit passage of fuel'through both valves and into the cylin-` ders, and plates carried by said cylinders for holding said rim valves closed except when the cylinder valves are moved into said operative relation with said rim valves.

l2. ln an engine, the combination, with a stationary frame, of a rotatable frame journaled therein, cylinders mounted to oscillate on said rotatable frame, pistons and piston rods in said cylinders, the piston rods being movable into engagement with elements of ico said stationary frame, whereby to drive said rotating frame, racks mounted on said stationary frame and positioned between said frame elements, and pinions mounted on said cylinders positioned to be engaged with said racks by the movement of said rotating frame.

13. In an engine, the combination, with a stationary frame and a rotatable frame journaled thereon, said rotatable frame comprising a plurality of wheels each including a wheel rim, together with a central hollow shaft on which said wheels are carried, a plurality of cylinders mounted to oscillate n each wheel, pistons and piston rods in said cylinders, said piston rods being positioned to engage elements of said stationary frame, and means, carried by said cylinders and controlled by the oscillation thereof, for permitting fuel t0 pass from said central hollow shaft into all of said cylinders.

14:. In an engine, ther combination, with a rotating frame, and a cylinder mounted to oscillate on said frame, said cylinder having a piston and a piston rod reciprocating therein, of a series of stationary elements evenly spaced around said rotating frame and into engagement with each of which said piston rod is successively brought, each element serving, first,to move said piston in said cylinder to compress fuel therein, and, second, to resist the reverse movement of said piston rod caused by explosion of the fuel in said cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature.

WALTERLL. BARTHELEMY.

Copies of this patent may beLobtained for five cents each,rby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C. 

